By Linda Dede Nyanya Godji Incoom
Before dawn breaks, Theophilos Kwasi Sakyi, known among fisherfolk at Jamestown as Nii Konney, drags his fishing net toward the shore, preparing for another day at sea. But before his canoe even touches the water, he must navigate heaps of plastic waste washed onto the beach overnight. Empty sachet water pouches, food containers, black polythene bags and other refuse lie tangled along the shoreline, mixed with the stench of open defecation and improperly disposed human waste.
For more than 20 years, Nii Konney has fished these waters. He says the sea that once sustained generations in the community is gradually becoming polluted by human waste and indiscriminate dumping.
“Sometimes when we cast our nets, we bring back more plastic than fish,” he says, pointing at debris scattered across. “The waste even destroys some of our fishing nets.”
Despite intensified sanitation campaigns, open defecation and indiscriminate waste disposal continue to plague sections of the country’s shores.
“People still dump refuse directly into drains, rivers and other waterways, and when it rains, everything enters the sea. Others leave human waste wrapped in black polythene bags along the beach. These practices worsen pollution and threaten public health,” Nii Konney says.
Although NGOs occasionally organise clean-up exercises within the community, he says the pollution problem persists.
For fishing communities like Jamestown, the crisis is no longer just an environmental concern. Fisherfolk and fish sellers say the growing pollution is beginning to affect their livelihoods, fish catches and the future of the sea on which they depend for survival.
Pollution entering the food chain and affecting the marine ecosystem
Environmental experts warn that the growing pollution is no longer only a sanitation issue but also a threat to marine life, livelihoods and public health.
The Founder of Environmental advocacy organisation, Environment360, Ms. Cordie Aziz says coastal communities such as Jamestown and Tema are increasingly battling both local waste and pollution transported from inland communities through drains and waterways.
“Land-based pollution in the Tema and Jamestown area continues to be a threat to marine and human life,” says Ms. Aziz.
According to the organisation, with more than seven million people living along Ghana’s coastline and fisheries contributing about 60 per cent of the country’s protein supply, the pollution crisis poses a serious environmental, health and food security threat if left unchecked.
The growing pollution also threatens Ghana’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the Global Biodiversity Framework’s “30×30” target, a global commitment to protect 30 per cent of the world’s marine and coastal ecosystems by 2030. Environmental advocates warn that degrading coastal habitats through poor sanitation and plastic pollution undermines efforts to restore marine biodiversity and protect vulnerable ecosystems.
The organisation explains that waste dumped into open drains, streams and gutters eventually finds its way into the sea, especially during heavy rainfall.
Research reviewed for this report indicates that plastic pollution now accounts for a significant portion of marine litter globally. Scientists warn that plastic waste in oceans could outweigh fish by mass in the coming decades if urgent measures are not taken.
Studies also show that plastic waste is gradually destroying important fish breeding grounds, including mangroves, lagoons and coastal ecosystems that support juvenile marine life.
Fisherfolk worried over declining catches
For fishermen, the pollution is directly affecting their daily work and income. Nii Konney says there are times fishermen spend more time removing plastics and debris from their nets than harvesting fish.
At Ashaiman market, Mama Akos has sold fish for more than 15 years. Her supplier is her husband, a fisherman at Tema Newtown, and his concerns mirror those of Nii Konney.
“My husband goes fishing before dawn and returns late with far less than before,” she says, sorting a small pile of mackerel at her wooden table. “He says the sea is full of rubbish.”
“When the sea is sick, we are all sick,” she adds.
What Mama Akos describes as a husband-and-wife problem is, in fact, a crisis unfolding across Ghana’s coastline, one driven not only by what happens at sea, but also by activities on land, in markets, in drains and along the shore.
“We all eat the fish from this sea,” she says. “If the water is polluted, then everybody should be worried.”
Health fears over polluted waters
Scientists warn that as plastics break down in water, they form tiny particles known as microplastics, which can be consumed by fish and other marine organisms.
Research has linked microplastic exposure in fish to organ damage, reproductive problems and contamination from harmful chemicals attached to plastic surfaces. Studies also suggest humans may unknowingly consume these particles through seafood.
Environmental researchers warn that some plastics contain chemicals associated with hormonal disruption, cancers and other long-term health risks.
Research by UNICEF highlights the danger. One gram of human faeces can contain up to 10 million viruses, one million bacteria, 1,000 parasite cysts and 100 parasitic eggs, underscoring the serious health risks associated with poor sanitation practices.
Residents say while public toilets exist in some areas, some people still avoid using them, particularly during odd hours or at night.
Existing laws and policy measures
Ghana has introduced several policy and regulatory measures aimed at addressing marine pollution and improving environmental management. The Maritime Pollution Act, 2016 (Act 932), governs the prevention and control of pollution from maritime activities, while the National Plastics Management Policy seeks to reduce plastic waste and promote recycling across both public and private sectors.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025, also introduced stronger fisheries enforcement measures and expanded Ghana’s Inshore Exclusive Zone from six to 12 nautical miles, a move expected to help reduce pressure on nearshore marine ecosystems already affected by land-based pollution.
AMA intensifies crackdown
Meanwhile, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has intensified efforts to tackle open defecation and indiscriminate waste disposal along parts of the coastline.
Recent enforcement exercises have led to the arrest of some individuals accused of openly defecating at the seaside and improperly disposing of waste. Some offenders have reportedly been arraigned, while others are expected to face prosecution.
The move forms part of efforts to improve sanitation and reduce environmental pollution within coastal communities.
However, environmental observers believe enforcement alone may not solve the problem without stronger public education, improved drainage systems, reliable waste collection and accessible sanitation facilities.
Ms. Cordie Aziz of Environment360 says addressing the crisis requires building practical waste management capacity within communities themselves.
“Communities need practical training that helps them manage a portion of their waste in their homes or within their own communities,” she says.
This, she explains, means equipping green entrepreneurs with training in machine operation, materials science and sustainable business modelling to support systems that can be scaled and adopted by micro-enterprises across coastal regions.
Ms. Aziz also calls on municipal assemblies and governing bodies to explore decentralised recycling as a practical option, particularly in areas where efficient waste collection remains unreliable.
“Providing practical pathways for people to earn a living from the collection and processing of their waste is an opportunity that we must explore,” she adds.
For many residents in Jamestown and other coastal communities, the sea remains central to their livelihoods, culture and daily survival. But as waves continue to carry plastic waste and pollution back onto the shore, concerns are growing over the long-term future of Ghana’s coastal communities.
Environment360 argues that protecting Ghana’s coastline will require stronger action on sanitation, waste management and community-led conservation. Without urgent intervention, it warns Ghana could struggle to support global efforts to safeguard marine ecosystems under the 30×30 target.
“The sea feeds us,” Nii Konney says quietly. “If we continue treating it this way, one day it will stop giving back to us.”
This story was produced with support from the Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association (GARDJA) and the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) as part of the Save Our Seas project.
